The film adaptation of the works of the adventures of beautiful Angelica at one time gained great success with the audience. All the performers of key roles managed to become famous. The man who embodied the image of Joffrey de Peirac was no exception. What is known about the character and actor who played it?
Geoffrey de Peirac: prototype and hero
First of all, it's worth figuring out which character is in question. The image of Geoffrey de Peirac made a lasting impression on the audience. He is one of the main characters in the novels about Angelica, the husband of the main character. Physical ugliness did not prevent this man from winning the heart of a young beauty, even if she was forced to become his wife. Angelica could not forget her lover when fate parted them.
Anne Golon is a woman, thanks to whom such a bright and original character as Joffrey de Peirak was born. The prototype of the hero is the husband of the writer Serge, in collaboration with whom she created a series of books about the adventures of Angelica.
Love line
The family forces the main character to accept the offer of a wealthy aristocrat, as she needs money. First, she disgusts her husband, who was imposed on her, then gradually her virtues are revealed to her. Geoffrey is a man with innumerable talents. He studies science and engineering, travels a lot, writes poetry and plays music. The hero managed to become so rich and powerful that he aroused envy among King Louis the Fourteenth. The ruler of France made sure that the "enemy" was sentenced to death. The main character, convinced that her other half is no more, is forced to fight for survival.
Angelica and Geoffrey de Peirac do not part at all forever. There comes a time when viewers learn that the allegedly executed Earl actually escaped death. Having managed to survive, he is forced to hide, which prompts him to turn into a pirate. Geoffrey is desperately trying to reunite with his beloved woman, however, he is constantly disturbed by unexpected obstacles.
Actor Biography
The above tells about the character, but who played it? Robert Hossein is a man who has received this honor. The future performer of the role of the count was born in Paris, it happened in December 1927. The actor was born into a musical family, his father Andre was a violinist, and his mother Anna was a pianist. Among Robert's ancestors there are Tajiks, Azerbaijanis, Jews.
Hossein perfectly mastered the Russian language in his childhood. This is a merit of his mother, whose family was forced to leave Kiev in the revolutionary years. The future actor was barely 15 when he began studying in a theater studio. Then Robert graduated from the courses of Rene Simon, began to receive roles in performances. He managed to acquire the greatest popularity in the “Gran Guignol”, which is known as the “horror theater”.
First successes
Robert Hossein first appeared on the set in 1948 - he made his debut in the film "Memories are not for sale." Then films with his participation begin to be released one after another: Maya, Embankment of the Blondes, Black Series, Men's Showdown, and Bastards Go to Hell. The last of the mentioned paintings also became his directorial debut.
In 1956, a French film adaptation of Dostoyevsky's work Crime and Punishment was presented to the audience. Director Georges Lampin proposed a key role for Robert. This decision was made, including due to the fact that the actor speaks excellent Russian.
Filming in Crime and Punishment allowed Hossein to become a sought-after actor. He played one main role after another, for example, in the films “You Are Poison”, “Freedom under supervision”, “Night of Spies”, “Watch out, girls”. The status of his on-screen partner for several years belonged to Marina Vladi, on whom the future performer of the role of the count was married for some time.
Finest hour
Hossein became a sought-after actor several years before the film Angelica, Marquise of the Angels was released. However, it was the film adaptation of the works of Ann and Serge Golon that gave him star status. The role of the director was taken by Bernard Bordery, who had already managed to become famous thanks to the filming of the movie version of The Three Musketeers. It was he who managed to convince Hossein that the role of Count Joffrey was on his shoulder.
The film "Angelica, Marquise of the Angels" received mixed reviews from critics. The scriptwriters were reproached for allowing themselves some deviations from the plot. However, the audience the story of the adventures of the brave Angelica and her mysterious wife was met with enthusiasm.
Of course, Bernard Bordery was not limited to the release of one part of the story. “Angelica and the King”, “Indomitable Angelica” - tapes in which the audience again meets with their beloved heroes, including the allegedly executed count. It becomes known that the character not only escaped death, but also managed to make a name for himself in the pirate world. As an invincible Rescuer, he fights the royal fleet at sea.
Other movie work
First of all, this man was remembered by the audience as Joffrey de Peirac. The actor can be proud of other bright roles. In the drama "I Killed Rasputin," he brilliantly embodied the image of one of the key characters - Sergei Sukhotin. The plot, as the name suggests, revolves around the murder of the famous old man. Hossein is not only a performer of one of the central roles, but also a director of the picture. He consulted a lot with eyewitnesses of events and their descendants in order to reliably tell the audience the mysterious story of Rasputin's death.
A notable role went to the actor in the crime tape "Time of the Wolves". Also, one cannot fail to note the image of the commissioner, which Robert created in the action-packed film "Professional". It is interesting that this picture was very popular in our country in the early 90's.
Spectators who liked the acting duet of Hossein and Michel Mercier (the performer of the role of Angelica) should certainly pay attention to other paintings with the participation of this tandem. In total, the stars met on the set about eight times. In addition to “Angelica”, the duet can be seen in the paintings “Heavenly Thunder”, “Second Truth”, “Cemetery without Crosses”.
Hossein and Vladi
Of course, fans can not help but be interested in the personal life of the person who played Geoffrey de Peirac. In 1955, Robert first decided to part with his freedom, his chosen one was the movie star Marina Vladi. The first couple of years of marriage, the couple gave the impression of an ideal couple, almost never parted, including on the set. Then quarrels began, which led to a divorce. The relationship between Marina and Robert ended in 1959.
The movie star gave Hossein two children. The boys were called Igor and Peter, in the parental footsteps they did not go. The eldest son is engaged in growing pearls, the youngest preferred a career as a musician.
Second and third wife
Soon after breaking up with Vlad, Hossein again tied himself up by marriage. His choice fell on the screenwriter Karolin Elyashev - with this woman the actor lived for about 15 years. The second wife gave the performer the role of Joffrey de Peyrac son Nicolas. For a while he acted in films, then preferred the life of a rabbi in Strasbourg.
The actor broke up with his third wife Marie-France. Candice's fourth wife, whom he is currently married to, gave birth to his fourth son, Julien. It is known that the romance of Robert and Candice began with the fact that he invited her to play in his film Les Miserables, which was released in 1982.